Resilient Damping Members for Industrial Truck Fork Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing industrial trucks, particularly those used in urban areas for delivering pallets, face challenges in reducing noise and vibrations due to the lack of effective damping in their lifting mechanisms, which are not addressed by existing solutions that are either complex, expensive, or unsuitable for existing truck designs.
Innovation Solution
The integration of resilient damping members, preferably made of rubber, into the lifting forks and wheel yokes of industrial trucks to absorb vibrations and eliminate play, thereby reducing noise and vibrations during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If damp cushions are added to the forks as disclosed in DE 44 42 288 C1, then noise from fork impact is reduced, but the solution becomes complicated and expensive, and does not address vibrations from loose articulated attachments
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and addresses the specific source of noise and vibrations identified as the loose articulated attachments at the wheel yoke, rather than applying a general damping solution to the entire fork assembly. This targeted approach simplifies the solution while effectively addressing the root cause.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies cushioning elements (elastomeric material) beforehand at the articulated attachments of the wheel yoke to prevent vibrations and noise from loose connections, rather than adding damp cushions after the fact to an already complex assembly.
2Force
If springs are added to aid lifting as in US 2423703, then lifting assistance is provided, but no sound or vibration damping is achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces cushioning elements made of elastomeric material as an intermediary between the wheel yoke and its articulated attachments. This intermediary component serves dual purposes: it dampens vibrations and noise from loose connections while also providing lifting assistance, combining functions that were previously separate.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If damping members are added to lifting forks, then noise level is reduced by approximately 2%, but the forks become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies damping members locally at the specific location where vibrations and noise are generated - the articulated attachments of the wheel yoke - rather than adding complex damping systems to the entire lifting fork assembly. This localized approach minimizes added complexity while achieving the desired noise reduction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively lowers the noise level by approximately 2% from 60.2 dB to 59 dB under testing conditions, providing a cost-effective and simple method to dampen existing truck designs without requiring an overlaying cover plate, making it suitable for various truck types.
Implementation Method 1
resilient damping members, preferably made of rubber, into the lifting forks and wheel yokes of industrial trucks to absorb vibrations and eliminate play
Implementation Method 2
resilient damping members, preferably made of rubber
Data Source
Figure 1~10
Figure 4~12
Figure 6~9
AI summary
Device for sound and vibration damping at an industrial truck, which truck comprises a piece comprising a back portion carrying two between a lowest position and a raised position raiseable and lowerable lifting forks (12), where each lifting fork close to its free end is provided with at least one wheel (14) for carrying said end on a base surface and where each lifting fork comprises a wheel yoke (15) for carrying said wheel of the lifting fork with devices to by means of the wheel yoke displace said wheel between a first position corresponding to a lowest position and a second position corresponding to said raised position. The device is particularly defined by by the lifting forks (12) comprised resilient damping members (19), each of which is arranged to be carried by means of an interiorly in respective lifting fork arranged attachment (20) and to resiliently act upon the lifting fork wheel yoke (15), with a in essentially the direction of said free end (13) acting spring force, when the lifting fork is in said lowest position. The invention also relates to an industrial truck.